Safety cap and container



P. HEDGEWICK Oct. 3, 1967 2 sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1966 5.. K 3 c 2 O R/ a 2 5/ 4 Wm m k 2 2 p mz ZM ATTORNEYS Oct. 3, 1967 Filed April 5, 1966 SAFETY CAP AND CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 43 NVENTOR 25727? HHJGA-W/CK BY yew; 12w waw ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,344,942 SAFETY CAP AND CONTAlNER Peter Hedgewick, 2375 Winder-mere Road, Windsor, Ontario, Canada Filed Apr. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 540,338 9 Claims. (Cl. 2159) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE The container disclosed herein comprises a cylindrical plastic body which is molded in one piece and has circumferentially spaced radially extending pro ections on the upper end thereof that have notches there n. The cap embodying the invention comprises a one-piece plastlc body having a base and peripheral flange with ClICllIIlferentially spaced lugs extending radially inwardly for engagement with the notches. An annular integral flexible web is provided on the inner surface of the base and extends downwardly and outwardly for engagement with the upper end of the container. An annular integral rib on the inner surface of the base overlies the annular flexible web and serves as a stop to prevent overflexing of the web. The base of the cap includes circumferential openings which facilitate its manufacture as a one-piece plastic cap but do not interfere with the sealing action of the annular web. The cap is applied to the container by a rotating movement. The cap can only be removed from the container by applying an axial force on the periphery of the cap and thereafter rotating the cap.

Background of the invention This invention relates to safety caps and containers.

A serious problem that has long existed with respect to the handling of drugs is that the drugs are often packaged in containers that can be readily opened by children resulting in many serious injuries and deaths.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a novel cap and container structure which cannot be readily opened so that children are deterred, if not prevented, from opening the containers; which is relatively simple and inexpensive; and which can be made by molding in cavities. More specifically, the objects of the invention are to provide a novel plastic cap that can be molded in one piece and a novel apparatus for making such a cap.

Summary Basically, the container specifically comprises a cylindrical plastic body which can be molded in a one-piece mold and has circumferentially spaced radially extending projections on the upper end thereof that have notches flexing of the Web. The base of the cap includes circumferential openings which facilitate its manufacture as a one-piece plastic cap but do not interfere with the sealing action of the annular web. The cap is applied to the container by a rotating movement. The cap can only be removed from' the container by applying an axial force on the periphery of the cap and thereafter rotating the cap.

that children are deterred 3,344,942 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of 2 container embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the relative positions of the parts as the container is being opened.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the upper end of the container.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the container.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the upper end of the container.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the cap.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the cap.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of the cap.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view through an apparatus for molding the cap.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, the invention comprises a cap 10 that is adapted to be applied to the upper end of a container C, each of which is molded by injecting plastic into a cavity, as presently described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 68, the cap 10 includes a base 11 and a peripheral flange 12 extending axially of the axis of the cap. A plurality of radially inwardly extending lugs 13 are provided on the inner surface 14 of the flange 12 adjacent the lower end thereof. An integral flexible resilient annular web 15 extends generally axially and radially outwardly from the inner surface 16 of the base 11 and is formed with an enlarged rib 17 on the free end thereof that is adapted to engage the upper end of the container C. An integral annular rib 18 extends axially from the inner surface 16 of the base 11 in generally overlying relation to the free end of the web 15.

The container C is generally cylindrical at least at the upper end and preferably throughout so that it can be made in a single cavity one-piece mold. The container C is formed at its upper end with a plurality of outwardly extending radial projections 19. As shown in FIG. 5, each radial projection 19 is formed with a first portion 20 and a circumferentially spaced second portion 21 to define a notch 22. he lower surface 23 of the first portion 20 is tapered gradually downwardly and circumferentially to blend in a smooth curve with the side wall 24 of the notch 22. The second portion 21 extends axially'a greater distance from the upper end of the container to define the side 25 of the notch 22. The upper end of the container 11 is formed with a flat radial surface 26.

As further shown in FIGS. 1 and 6-8, the cap 10 is formed with a plurality of axially extending openings in the base 11 which overlie the lugs 13 and result from the apparatus for manufact ure of the cap, as presently described.

In order to assemble the cap 10 on the container C, the cap is applied to the upper end of the container and rotated to bring the lugs 13 into engagement with the tapered surfaces 23 of the projections 19. Further rotation of the cap causes the lugs to follow the surfaces 23 producing a flexing of the web 15 intermediate its free edge and its base until the lugs engage the notches 22. In this position, the cap 10 is locked on the container C by the spring force of the web 15 and the bead 17 of the web 15 is in sealing engagement with the upper surface 26 of the container C as shown in FIG. 1. The base 11 of the cap 10 is of such a thickness that it will flex if a force is applied at the center of the base 11. The area of juncture of the base of the web 15 and the base 11 of the cap substantially overlies the upper end of the container.

The cap cannot be removed by a simple rotation so if not prevented, from removing the cap. In order to r of the web 15 and permit the lugs 13 to move axially and thereby clear the portion 20 of the projections. After this axial force is applied, the cap can be turned in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2 to permit its removal. Because of the flexible nature of the base 11 of the cap, the axial force must be provided on the periphery of the cap and not at the center of the cap. This force is most conveniently applied by pressing the container against the palm of the hand. In both applying and removing the cap, the rib 18 prevents overflexing of the web 15 beyond the elastic limit which might cause a loss of resiliency or spring action of the web. In applying the cap, the greater axial extent of the portion 21 prevents turning the cap beyond the notch 22. In removing the cap, the greater axial extent of the portion 21 prevents rotating the cap in the wron g direction for removal.

The cap is made of a suitable plastic material which provides the desired flexibility of the integral web 15. A preferred material comprises polypropylene although other materials such as polyethylene can be used. The container C is also preferably made of a plastic. A preferred plastic material comprises a high impact styrene.

In order to make the cap in a single piece, an apparatus such as shown in FIG. 9 is used. Referring to FIG. 9, the apparatus comprises a cavity retainer plate 30 in which a cavity body 31 is fixed. The cavity body 31 includes a cavity insert 32 so that a cavity is defined having a surface 33 defining the outer surface of the flange of the cap and a surface 34 defining the outer surface of the base of the cap.

The apparatus further includes a core retainer plate 35 that is movable axially relative to the cavity retainer plate and supports a central core body 36 fixed to the plate 35 and a stripper and core ring 37 which is movable axially relative to the core retainer plate 35. Specifically, a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins 38 are yieldingly urged upwardly by spring means 39 to in turn tend to urge the stripper and core ring 37 upwardly. An enlarged head or shoulder 40 on the pins 38 limits the upward movement of the stripper and core ring 37.

The stripper and core ring 37 includes an annular upwardly extending portion 41 that defines the inner surface of the flange 12 of the cap and .a portion of the inner surface 16 of the base 11 which includes the rib 18 and the outer surface of the web 15. The core body 36 includes a central upwardly extending portion 42 that defines the inner surface of the web and a portion of the inner surface 16 of the base 11 of the cap. Finally, an ejector pin 43 defines the remaining portion of the inner surface of the base of the cap.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced pin members 44 have their lower ends extending downwardly into the space which defines the flange of the cap. The pin members 44 are adapted to engage the outer surface of the annular portion 41 of the stripper and core ring 37. The lower ends of the pin members 44 define the upper surfaces of the lugs 13 of the cap.

In operation, the cavity retainer plate is moved downwardly relative to the core retainer plate and causes the stripper and core ring 37 to move axially into the position shown in FIG. 9 relative to the core retainer plate 35. Plastic under pressure is introduced through a runner to mold the cap. The cavity retainer plate 30 is then moved axially away from the core retainer plate. During this movement, the stripper and core ring 37 also moves axially upwardly. Further movement of the cavity retainer plate 30 causes the cap to be stripped from the cavity of the cavity body 31 leaving the cap on the stripper and core ring 37. Since the stripper and core ring 37 has moved upwardly relative to the core retainer plate 35 and core 36, the ejector pin 43 can then be moved upwardly to strip the cap from the stripper and core ring 37. The space that has been thus formed between the upper end 42 of the core body 36 and the annular projection 41 of the ring 37 is suflicient to permit flexing of the web 15 so that the stripping can take place.

It can thus be seen that there has been defined a novel cap and container construction which cannot be readily removed by a turning action, a novel cap construction which is one piece and a novel apparatus for forming such a one-piece cap. It will further be seen that the cap cannot be removed by applying pressure to the center of the cap by means of the thumb, and that the pressure must be applied to the outer periphery by means of the palm of the hand; thus adding greatly to the safety features.

What is claimed is:

1. An integral one-piece plastic cap having a base and a peripheral flange,

a plurality of radially inwardly extending integral lugs on the inner surface of said flange,

said lugs being adapted to engage notches on the upper end of a container,

the base of said cap having axial openings therein overlying said lugs,

the circumferential dimension and radial dimension of each said opening being substantially equal to the corresponding dimensions of the underlying lug,

an integral annular web on the inner surface of the base of said cap extending downwardly when the cap is on the container.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said integral annular web extends gradually downwardly and radially outwardly and is of such a thickness that it flexes upon relative axial movement between the cap and the container.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 including an annular enlarged rib on the free end of said web.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the base of said cap has inherent flexibility whereby pressure must be applied to the outer periphery of the cap in order to disengage the lugs on the cap from notches on the upper end of a container.

5. The combination comprising a container having a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections extending radially outwardly from the upper end thereof,

each said projection having a downwardly facing notch therein,

and a cap having a base and a peripheral flange,

a plurality of radially inwardly extending lugs on the inner surface of said flange,

said lugs being adapted to engage the notches on the projections of the container,

an annular flexible web on the inner surface of the base extending downwardly and engaging the upper end of the container when the cap is on the container,

and stop means on the inner surface of the base of the said stop means extending axially of the cap and serving as a stop for limiting the flexing action of the annular web,

said base of said cap having axial openings therein overlying said lugs.

6. A cap having a base and a peripheral flange,

a plurality of radially inwardly extending lugs on the inner surface of said flange,

said lugs being adapted to engage notches on the upper end of a container,

an annular flexible web on the inner surface of the base extending downwardly and adapted to engage the upper end of a container when the cap is on the container,

and stop means on the inner surface of the base of the cap,

said stop means extending axially of the cap and serving as a stop for limiting the flexing action of the annular web,

the base of said cap having axial openings therein overlying said lugs.

7. The combination comprising a container having a plurality of circumferentially the circumferential dimension and radial dimension of spaced projections extending radially outwardly from each said opening being at least as great as the correthe upper end thereof, sponding dimensions of the underlying lug,

each said projection having a downwardly facing notch said cap having an integral portion depending therefrom therein, and adapted to engage the container so that the cap is an integral one-piece plastic cap having a base and a 5 stressed when the cap is on the container to hold said peripheral flange, lugs in the notches.

a plurality of radially inwardly extending integral lugs "9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein the on the inner surface of said flange, base of said cap has inherent flexibility whereby pressure said lugs being adapted to engage notches on the upper must be applied to the outer periphery of the cap in order end of a container, 10 to disengage the lugs on the cap from notches on the said cap having axial opening therein overlying said upper end of a container.

lugs,

the circumferential dimension and radial dimension of References Cited each said opening being substantially equal to the cor- UNI STATES PATENTS responding dimensions of the underlying lug,

an integral annular web on the inner surface of the base ggg i 5' gf igi gg f downwardly when the cap 15 on 3,248,025 4/1966 Santore 215--56 X 8. An integral one piece plastic cap having a base and FOREIGN PATENTS a perlphelial flange, 1,213,812 11/1959 France.

a plurality of radially inwardly extending integral lugs on the inner surface of said flange, OTHER REFERENCES said lugs being adapted to engage notches on the upper German printed application 1,107,541, May 1961.

end of a container, said cap having axial openings therein overlying said DONALD NORTON, Primary Examine?- lugs, 

1. AN INTEGRAL ONE-PIECE PLASTIC CAP HAVING A BASE AND A PERIPHERAL FLANGE, A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY INWARDLY EXTENDING INTEGRAL LUGS ON THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID FLANGE, SAID LUGS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE NOTCHES ON THE UPPER END OF A CONTAINER, THE BASE OF SAID CAP HAVING AXIAL OPENINGS THEREIN OVERLYING SAID LUGS, THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL DIMENSION AND RADIAL DIMENSION OF EACH SAID OPENING BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE CORRESPONDING DIMENSIONS OF THE UNDERLYING LUG, AN INTEGRAL ANNULAR WEB ON THE INNER SURFACE OF THE BASE OF SAID CAP EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY WHEN THE CAP IS ON THE CONTAINER. 